Fastener for the lids of milk or cream cans



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,800

J. M. UMBERGER ET AL FASTENER FOR THE LIDS OF MILK OR CREAM CANS Fil'ed Sept. 1927 INVENTOR- wwam ATTOR N EY Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES JACOB M. UMB ERGER VERN S.

rmma or MONUMENT, 'ILLINoIs.

FASTENER FOR THE LIDS OF MILK OR CREAM CANS.

Application filed September 3, 1927. Serial No. 217,896.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in fasteners for the lids of milk or cream cans and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

Prior to our invention it was customary to depend uponthe frictional fit between the neck of a milk or cream can'and the lid therei i of for holding the lid in place upon the neck.

In shipping milk or cream cans it has been found that the lid in many instances works loose and due to vibration the contents of the cans is splashed around and finds exit through the neck around that part of the lid inserted therein. It is therefore one of the many objects of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive fastener for holding the lid in position upon the neck and which fastener may be expeditiously placed in and taken from fastening position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fastener which includes an ele ment yieldably acting upon the lid for holding the lid in proper position with respect to the neck of a milk or cream can or the like.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combiwe have shown in the accompanyin drawing 7 a conventional can 9 which inclu es a neck 10. This neck 10 has a mouth 11 which is of a frustro-conical shape. A lid is indicated at 12 and this lid is adapted to close the neck of the can. The lid has an angular flan e 13 at its bottom portion and this flange is a apted to fit in the neck 10. The upper portion of the lid is likewise frustro-conical in shape to'conform with the shape of the mouth 11. The lid 12 is provided with a handle 14 which facilitates removing the lid from closin position. The can also is provided withandles 15 to facilitate moving the can about. In the. present instance the peripheral edge 16' of the lid is partly rolled and this edge portion rests upon thebead'17 of the mouth.

The above description is an outline of one style of can with which ourinvention can be associated. In the present and preferred form'of a construction it has been foundadvis'ableto associate with each can two fasteners and the description to follow will relate to one fastener but it is understood that the description is equally applicable to the other fastener.

Our improved fastener includes a clip 18 which is secured to the neck 10 by suitable connecting elements 19 such as rivets or'the like. To this clip is connected one end portion 20 of a spring 21. A hook is indicated at 22 and this hook is substantially of a zigzag construction whereby to provide two U- shaped portions 23 and 24 respectively either of which are adapted to engage the edge 16 of the lid. The end portion 25 of the hook is connected as at 26 to the end portion 27 of the spring 21.

In use when the springand hook is connected to the can by means of the clip 18 and rivets 19, the lid is fastened in position by disposing one of the .U-shaped ortions in engagement with the edge 16. n this position the spring 21 will yieldably hold the hook in lid fastening position. The outer U- shaped portion 24, when the U-shaped por tion 23 is utilized for holding the lid, may be used as a finger piece whereby to expeditiously detach the hook from lid holding position.

We have shown in the accompanying drawing a clip for connecting the end portion 25 of the spring to the can and it' is pointed out if desired, the clip may be dispensed with and the end portion of the spring connected directly to the can by means of the rivet 19 or by means of a suitable nut bearing bolt of a well known construction.

lVhile we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variation and modification as come within the scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described our invention What loop portion adapted to be disposed at one of we claim as new and desireto protect by Letthe ends of said U-shaped portion,:the other 'LersPatenijis: i (Sf-said ends-being arranged toprovide an- 1. A fasten-ingdevice for the lid of a can other U-shaped port-ion adapted to open in V l including a hook element providing U- the same direction as said first named U- shapedpoi'ti'onseither of'whichbeing adaptshaped portion and adapted to be-connected ed to engage the, edge of the lid and-one of to the-ot-her of said anns whereby to define a said portionsbeing adapted to serve. as a U-Shaped portion therebei-Ween, a clip elefinger piece, a spring. meinben having one'endmenhadeptedco besecured to a can, and a port-ion connected to the'hook element for spring menlbel adaptedio be extended bejyieldably bearing the edge of the-lid against tweensaid clip membenandsaid 100p onsaid the edgeof-the mouthbfthe can fend means P fastening element wherebysaid-intermediate for connecting the opposite end portion of U-shapedportion maybe urgedto hold alid the springinernber to the body of the can. in "o1osing' position with 'respect'to the outlet 2. A device of'the class 'described includof saidoan. 'ing'za fastening" 5318111611? having 'a'substan- In testimony WheBeOf-We aifixoun signaman U-shaped portionprovided 'flierein intures. v tel' mediate the ends there'ofl one 0fthe' ends 7 JACOB' M. UMBERGER.

"VERN "SJPERRINEL ofsaid element being arranged to p'rovide a 

